maintenance in being or activity; the sustaining of life through vital processes.
2.
provision with means or funds for upkeep.
3.
means of sustaining life; sustenance.
Origin: 1350–1400;Middle English < Latinsustentātiōn- (stem of sustentātiō) an upholding, equivalent to sustentāt(us) (past participle of sustentāre, frequentative of sustinēre to sustain) + -iōn--ion